Heat-related injuries

Heat-related injuries can be quite common – particularly in tasks that require attention, coordination and immediate memory skills.

Apart from heat-related illness, working in a hot environment also contributes to, or can cause, other health and safety injuries because of a worker being possibly fatigued, physically weak, having slower reaction times and poor judgement.

Heat-related injuries can be quite common – particularly in tasks that require attention, coordination and immediate memory skills.

Examples of heat-related injuries include:

Heat-related injury

Cause

Musculoskeletal injuries

Lacerations from loss of grip while handling tools, objects and controls

sweaty hands

fatigue and/or discomfort causing the worker to cut corners; not follow safe work procedures or not use PPE